Table 1.
Summary of the principal characteristics of the trigeminal reflex subtypes.
| Trigeminal reflex | Triggered by | Efferent pathway | Arterial pressure | Heart rate | Gastric motility | Splenic contraction | Peripheral vascular tone | Breathing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trigeminocardiac reflex | Direct stimulation of the trigeminal nerve | Parasympathetic ↑ | ↓ | ↓ | ↑ | ? | ↓ | Apnea |
| Sympathetic ↓ | ||||||||
| Diving reflex | Thermoreceptors in the facial skin | Parasympathetic ↑ | ↑ | ↓ | – | ↑ | ↑ | Apnea |
| Sympathetic ↑ | ||||||||
| Nasopharyngeal reflex | Nasal mucosa irritation | Parasympathetic ↑ | = | ↓ | – | ↑ | ↑ | Apnea |
| Sympathetic ↑ | ||||||||
| Oculocardiac reflex | Physical stimulation of the eye or adnexa | Parasympathetic ↑ | ↓ | ↓ | ↑ | ? | ↓ | Apnea |
| Sympathetic ↑ |
?, Not known.